Temporary shutoff for changing valves and plug cocks in pipe lines



Y M. LOPEZ Dec. 29, 1942. 2,306,452 v TEMPORARY SHUT-OFF FOR CHANGINGVALVES AND PLUG 'COGKS IN PIPE LINES F11ed May' 24, 1941 E 2sheets-sheet 1 ...TEEN

Dec. 29, 1942(v M. LOPEZ OFF FOR CHANGING VALVES AND PLUG COCKS IN PIPELINES TEMPORARY SHUT- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1941 Patented Dec.279, 1942 TEMPORARY SHUTOFF FOR CHANGING VALVES AND PLUG COCKS IN PIPELINES Michael Lopez, Whittier, Calif., assignor of onehalf to GertrudeFlorence Rich, Whittier,

Calif.

Application May 24, 1941, Serial N0. 395,048

(ol. 13s-89) 9 Claims.

This invention relates toa means for forming a temporary shut-off toenable and facilitatethe removal and replacement of gate valves, plugcocks, and the like in pipe lines.

In pipe lines having gate valves, plug cocks, and y the likeincorporated therein necessity requires removal of such valves and plugcocks from time der is forced upstream from the opening and is inflated,expanding against the interior of the pipe line and thus formingatemporary plug or shut-off therein. Such inatable bladders are subjectto the disadvantage that if the interior of the pipe is rough or thereis scale present that the bladder may be punctured on its being iniiatedthereagainst. It not frequently occurs that these bladders fail frommere deterioration. At all events their use is restricted to situationswhere the pressure that is being shutoff does not exceed fifteen poundsper square inch. When the bladders have been installed the plugcock orvalve located downstream therefrom can be removed, inspected, repaired,and replaced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved means forforming a temporary shut-off which can be introduced Yinto the pipe lineand lit in a positionupstream vfrom the valve orY plug cock which avoidsthe necessity of pro.

viding an opening in the pipeline upstream from 5f the valve or plugcock for its introduction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible shut-off foruse in pipe lines which does not require inflation and which canbe eX-panded with great force against the interior of the pipe line to form avery effective shut-01T which is not restricted in its use to situationsWhere there are low pressures. Y

More specically, an object of the invention is to Aprovide a shut-olifor use in pipe lines v which has an expansible disc-like closure withoperating means associated therewith whereby the disc-like line andfinally compressed and expanded against the interior of the `pipe lineto effect a closure. The parts associated with the closure are such asto effectively prevent any substantial amount of leakage and when theclosure isinstalled they facilitate removal and replacement of the valveand plug cock.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be mademanifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointedout in the appended Claims, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings for `an illustrative embodi-l ment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a pipe line havingincorporated therein a plug cock that it is desired to remove andreplace illustrating that portion of the pipe line which is downstreamof the plug cock as having been removed andthe apparatus embodying thepresent invention as having been applied to the plug cock preparatory tothe insertion of the closure; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takensubstantially upon the line 2--2 upon Fig. 1, `but illustrating thedisc-like closure as having been introduced into the pipe line to assumea position at right angles thereto and upstream of the plug cock that isto be removed and replaced;

Fig. 3 is a view similarv to Fig. 1, but illustrating the closure ashaving been expanded and set and the cap `and handles of the device ashaving been removed preparatory to the removal of the plug cock from thepipeline; f

closure can be introduced into the pipe line down stream of the valve orplug cock in a position wherein its plane is approximately parallel tothe length of the pipe line. In this position, the disc-like closure canbemoved through the valve or plug cock into a position upstream withrelation thereto, then turned so that its plane is approximately rightangles to the length of the pipe Fig. 4 is a horizontal section takensubstantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a verticalsection taken upon the line 5-5 upon Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 6 is a partial view inside elevation, parts being broken away andshown in section illustrating the details of construction of the closure`and its connections with its operating rod and tube; and y Fig. 7 is asectional View taken substantially upon the line 1.-'1 upon Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, P indicates a pipe linein which is installed a plug cock or valve V vwhich it is desired toremove and replace'for cleaning, inspection, or repair purposes.-Y y'Iheportion of the pipe line P illustrated is the upstream side of the pipevline. The downstream side that is normally connected to the oppositeside of the valve V is illustrated as having been removed although priorto the application of the device embodying the present invention it willbe substantially t understood that this pipe would normally be present.

When it is desired to remove the valve or plug cock V the valve or plugcock is first closed, as illustrated in Fig. l, and one or more sectionsof pipe in the pipe line downstream therefrom are removed. The devicethat comprises the present invention consists of a housing formed ofseparable parts, one of such parts is indicated at I and the other ofwhich is indicated at Ii. These parts have companion flanges I2 and I3,

respectively. The flange I2 has rigidly and per- Y manently securedthereto threaded studs I4, to which are applicable nuts I5. These studseX- tend through arcuate slots I6 in the flange I3. The arcuate slotspermit of slight rotary adjustment of the cap part I I with relation tothe body part I0 for a purpose as will hereinafter be explained. Asuitable gasket I'I is normally positioned between the anges.

Slightly off-center with relation to the center of cap II there isformed a suitable stuffing box consisting of packing I8 adapted to becompressed by a gland I9 within which there may be a ring 20 having asquared or non-circular opening therein. Extending through this stuiiingbox is a squared tube 2| within which there is telescopically arranged arod 22 having one end threaded as at 23 and the other end squared as at24 so as to fit the interior of the tube. On the threaded end of the rodthere is a nut 25 to which is applicable the socket in a handle 25. Thisnut is adapted to be tightened against the end of tube 2| as clearlyillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The extreme outer end of rod 22 is squaredor rendered non-circular and is adapted to removably receive a socketedhandle 21.

On the forward end of the tube 2| there is a fork 28 to which links 29are pivotally connected as by rivets 30. These links, in turn, repivotally connected as by rivets 3I to ears 32 formed on the rear sideof a closure disc plate 33. Opposed to the closure disc plate 33 is asecond closure disc plate 34 having a central hub 35 which extendsrearwardly through the closure disc plate 33 and which is bifurcated toreceive the forward end of rod 22. The rod 22 is pivotally connected tothe hub 35 of the forward closure disc plate 34 as by a rivet 39. Thetwo closure disc plates are opposed to each other 5,

and preferably present beveled iaces between which is arrangedcompressible and expansible packing 31 which may be formed of rubber orthe equivalent. Pins or bosses may be provided on the hub 35 asindicated at 38v and slots 39 capable of enabling these pins or bossesto pass therethrough are. formed in the rear closure plate 33.

In assembling the disc-like closure. made up of the two closure platesand the packing ring the two closure plates are rotated relatively toeach other or at 90 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to permit the pinsor bosses 3.8 to pass through the slots 39. They are then rotatedrelatively toV each other so as to assume the relative position shown inFig. 6. The links andl pivot rivets 29, 30, 3|, and 36 are then appliedso that all parts are so connected together that there is little dangerof any of the apparatus loosening or becoming detached while theconstruction is in the pipe line. It will be understood that the forwardsides of the pins or bosses 38 bear against the rear side of the rearclosure plate 33 when the parts are assembled.

The ends of the arms of the fork 28 are engageable with the rear side ofthe rear closure plate 33 when the closure plate has its plane positionat substantially right angles Yto the length of the rod and the tubesuch engagement occurring at the areas 40.

The operation and advantages of the device are as follows: With thedownstream sections of the pipe line removed, the housing or body partI3 is screwed into the downstream side of the body of the plug cock orvalve. In the event that the casing of the valvevis not equipped withthreads but with a flange, then a companion ange is applied to thehousing It)Y and rmly attached thereto. This may be provided by aflanged collar, not shown, which is screwed onto the threaded end of thebody part I9. rThe flange of the collar is equipped with bolt holescomple nientary to the bolt holes in the flange of the valve or plugcocks.

When the housing or body is applied to the downstream end of the valveas illustrated in Fig. l, the disc-like closure is in its retractedposition disposed entirely within the housing and occupying a positionwherein its plane is substantially parallel to the lengths of the tube2I and the rod 22.

The valve or plug cock is then opened and although there may be highpressure in the pipe line on the upstream side of the valve suchpressure cannot cannot escape to any great extent because of thepresence of the cap member II and the stuffing box surrounding a tube2l. The tube 2| and the rod 22 are then pushed forwardly so as to passthe disc-like closure through the open valve or plug cock and positionit in the upstream portion of the pipe line. As above noted from aninspection of Fig. 7, the stuihng box is slightly off-center withrespect to cap II so that when the closure is in the parallel positionshown in Fig.. l, it will be so positioned as to pass thro-ugh thecenter of the opening formed in the plug of the plug cock.

On reaching the desired position in the upsteam portion of the pipeline, rod 22 is pulled relatively to tube 2l which causes the disc-likeclosure to pivot or to be swung from the parallel position at rightangles thereto or to a position as shown in Fig. 2. The pulling of therod 22 is transmitted to the closure through the rivet 36 the links 29permitting such turning movement which is finally arrested by areas 4I!engaging the endsof the arms of the fork 28. The socketed handle 26 isthen applied to nut 25 and the nut is screwed tightly against the end oftube 2| imposing considerable additional tension on rod 22. Thisadditional tension is transmitted through rivet 36 to the closure plate24 drawing this closure plate toward its opposed closure plate 33 andcompressing or squeezing the. packing ring 3l causing it to radiallyexpand into tight sealing engagement with the interior of the pipe lineP, thus forming a temporary closure upstream of the valve. Sufficientforce' may be imposed in this manner to seat the closure disc so as towithstand any ordinary pressures.

It is not essential that the stufling box I8 be absolutely leakproof. Onthe contrary it is desirable that a small amount of leakage be permittedthrough the stuffing box. in the event that the interior of the pipeline P is so rough that a leakproof seal cannot be formed by theradially expanded packing ring 31, such leakage may escape through theleaking stuifing box and detected by applying a soap solution around thestuiing box. If the soap solution indicates that `leakage is presentaround the seated closure disc the closure disc is loosened and moved toa different locality in the pipe line wherein a leakproof sealingengagement can be secured. Y

When the closure disc has been seated and it is `determined from theapplication of the soap solution around the stufng box that no leakageis present the handles 26 and 21 are removed, the nuts are removed, andthe cap member of the housing is withdrawn by sliding it rearwardly overthe projecting portion of tube 2| leaving the apparatus in the conditionillustrated in Fig. 3. The valve or plug cock V can then be unscrewed ordetached from pipe line P and when detached it is removed by withdrawingit over tube 2| and rod 22. It may then be inspected, cleaned, repaired,or replaced. In replacing the valve, the valve is opened and slid overthe projecting portions of the tube 2| and rod 22 and connected to thepipe line P. The cap member is reapplied and tightened in place byapplying the nuts to the threaded studs I4. The handles 26 and 21 arere-applied to the nut 25 and rod 22, respectively, and the nut 25 isloosened thus looseningthe opposed closure plates 33 and 34. By movingthe rod 22 forwardly with respect to tube 2| the closure disc is turnedfrom its transverse position shown in Fig. 2 into the parallel positionshown in Fig. 1, and in this position the closure may be retracted backinto the housing by drawing the tube 2| and rod 22 rearwardly. The valvecan then be closed, the housing or body detached from the valve, and theVdownstream portions of the pipe line replaced and connected to thevalve. ThereuponV the valve may be opened and the pipe line again placedin service.

If the valve in the pipe line is a gate valve ordinarily the seats forthe gate are of such diameter that the closure disc can be passedtherethrough While in its transverse position. In the case of suchvalves, the pivoting or turning of the closurel disc is unnecessary. Inthe case of plug cocks, however, such as that illustrated. the openingthrough the plug has less width than the internal diameter of the pipeline and rin this situation it is necessary to have the closure disccapable of assuming a position wherein its plane is approximatelyparallel to the length of the rod and tube so that it may be passedthrough this narrow opening in the plug and then turned into atransverse position for seating in the pipe line. v

From the above-described construction it will be appreciated that anovel. simple, durable. and advantageous means is provided for effectinga temporary shut-ofi'` in pipe lines to facilitate rei moval andreplacement of Vvalves therein. It is unnecessary to provide any openingin the upstream side of the pipe line for the insertion of the closureand when the closure is properly seated, it is capable of shutting offpressures greatly in excess of those capable of being shut off byinflatable bladders and the like. By means of the invention the closureproviding means is introduced into the pipe line in the downstream sideof the valve moved through the valve into the upstream side of the pipeline and seated therein regardless of the fact that the valve or plugcock may have an opening therein of less width than the internaldiameter of the pipe line.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

pipe lines including a disc-like closure adapted to be inserted in apipe line, a tube, a rod telescopically disposed therein, and meanspivotally connecting the rod and tube to the closure whereby the closuremay assume a position wherein'its plane is Vapproximately parallel tothe length of the rod and tube for insertion purposes or a positionapproximately at right angles thereto upon manipulation of the rodrelatively to the tube.

r2. Means for forming a temporary shut-olf in pipe lines including adisc-like closure adapted to be'inserted in a pipe line, a tube, a rodtele- 1. Means for forming temporary shut-olf in scopically disposedtherein, means pivotally connecting the closure to the rod, and linkspivotally connected to the closure and to the tube Whereby the closuremay assume a position wherein its plane is approximately parallel to thelength of the rod and tube for insertion purposes or a positionapproximately at right angles thereto upon manipulation of the rodrelatively to the tube.

3. Means for forming a temporary shut-01T in pipe lines including adisc-like closure formed of opposed parts movable toward and away fromeach other, compressible and expansible packing between the parts, a rodand tube telescopically arranged, means pivo-tally connecting one ofsaid parts to the tube, and means pivotally connecting the other of saidparts to the rod whereby the closure may assume a position wherein itsplane is approximately parallel to the length of the rod and tube or aposition at right angles thereto upon manipulation of the rod relativelyto the tube, and upon pulling the rod relatively to the tube the opposedparts will be forced to compress and expand the packing.

4. Means for forming a temporary shut-off in pipe lines including adisc-like closure formed of opposed parts movable toward and away fromeach other, compressible and expansible packing between the parts, a rodand tube telescopically arranged, links pivotally connected to one ofsaid parts and to the tube, means pivotally connecting the other of saidparts to the rod whereby the closure may assume a position wherein itsplane is approximately parallel to the length of the rod and' tube orpositioned at right angles thereto upon manipulation of the rodrelatively kto the tube, and upon pulling the rod relatively to the tubethe opposed parts will be forced to compress and expand the packing.

5. Means for forming a temporary shut-01T in pipe lines including adisc-like closure formed of opposed parts movable toward and away fromeach other, compressible and expansible packing between the parts, a rodand tube telescopically arranged, links pivotally connected to one ofsaid parts and to the tube, means pivotally connecting the other of saidparts to the rod whereby the closure may assume a. position wherein itsplane is approximately parallel to the length of the rod and tube orpositioned at right angles thereto upon manipulation of the rodrelatively to the tube, and upon pulling the rod relatively to the tubethe opposed parts will vbe forced to compress and expand the packing,and means for pulling the rod relatively to the tube.

6. Means for forming a temporary shut-off in pipe lines comprising ahousing formed of 'the separable parts normally attached together, onepart providing a cap and the other being attachable to a plug cock, gatevalve, or the like in the pipe line, a rod and tube telescopicallyarranged and adjustable through said cap, an expansible disc-likeclosure, means pivotally Yconnecting the closure to the rod, and meanspivotally connecting the closure to the tube whereby the closure may bemoved by the rod and tube from within the housing to the interior of thepipe line in a position wherein the closure is in a plane approximatelyparallel to the length of the rod and tube, then turned into a positionat approximately right angles thereto and expanded into engagement withthe interior of the pipe line by manipulation of the rod and tuberelatively to each other.

7. Means for forming a temporary shut-oir in pipe lines comprising ahousing formed of separable parts normally attached together, one partproviding a cap and the other being attachable Y to a plug cock, gatevalve, or the like in the pipe line, a rod and tube telescopicallyarranged and adjustable through said cap, an e-Xpansible disclikeclosure having opposed parts movable toward and away from each other,compressible and expansible packing between the parts, means pivotallyconnecting one part to the rod and links pivotally connected to theother part and to the tube whereby the closure may be moved by the rodand tube from within the housing to the interior of the pipe line in aposition wherein the closure is in a plane approximately parallel to thelength of the rod and tube, then turned into a position at approximatelyright angles thereto and the packing compressed and expanded intoengagement with the interior of the pipe line by manipulation of therod' and tube relatively to each other.

8. Means for forming a temporary shut-off' in pipe lines comprising ahousing formed of sep'- arable parts, one of which provides a cap andthe other of which is attachable to a part in the pipe line, anexpansible closure retractibl'e into the housing and means slidablethrough the cap for projecting the closure from the housin'ginto thepipe line in a position approximately parallel to the length of the pipeline, then turning the closure so as to be substantially transverse withrespect thereto and finally expanding the closure into engagement Withthe interior of the pipe line.

9. Means for forming a temporary shut-off in pipe lines comprising ahousing atta'chable to a part in the pipe line, an expansible closureretractible into the housing, and means slidable through a wall of thehousing for projecting the closure fro-m the housing into the pipe lineinV a position approximately parallel to the length of the pipe line,then turning the closure so as to be substantially transverse withrespect tov the pipe line and nally expanding the closure intoengagement with the interior of the pipe line.

MICHAEL LOPEZ.

